A study carried out in Krakow, Poland, has found that long term exposure to aircraft noise is associated with hypertension and organ damage. The study included 201 randomly selected adults aged 40 to 66 years who had lived for more than three years in an area with high or low aircraft noise. Of these, 101 were exposed to more than 60 decibels (dB) of aircraft noise on average and 100 were exposed to less than 55 dB and acted as a control group. The researchers matched the groups in pairs by gender, age, and amount of time living in the area. All participants had their blood pressure measured. Asymptomatic organ damage was assessed by measuring stiffness of the aorta and the mass and function of the left ventricle. They found that the group who lived in an area of high aircraft noise had more hypertension than those who lived in a low aircraft noise area (40% versus 24%). They also had higher systolic (146 versus 138 mmHg) and diastolic (89 versus 79 mmHg) blood pressure than the control group. The researchers say “There is emerging data to suggest that exposure to aircraft noise may increase the risk of hypertension, particularly at night, and of hospitalisation for cardiovascular diseases – but more evidence is needed.” Also that noise should be kept down, by “redirecting flight paths, keeping airports away from homes, and avoiding night flights.”
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Aircraft noise associated with hypertension and organ damage

Participants lived near an airport for three years or more

15 Jun 2016 (European Society of Cardiology)

By Sophia Antipolis

Long term exposure to aircraft noise is associated with hypertension and organ damage, reveals research presented today at the EuroPRevent 2016 meeting by Marta Rojek, a researcher at Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, Poland.1

“The volume of air traffic has skyrocketed since jet powered planes were introduced in the 1960s,” said Ms Rojek. “According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, there were 64 million take-offs and landings in 2013 and this figure is set to double in the next 20 years.”2

She continued: “The steady growth in air traffic and expansion of airports, along with the development of residential areas near airports, has led to more people being exposed to aircraft noise. There is emerging data to suggest that exposure to aircraft noise may increase the risk of hypertension, particularly at night, and of hospitalisation for cardiovascular diseases – but more evidence is needed.”3,4,5

The current study assessed the impact of aircraft noise on the development of hypertension and associated asymptomatic organ damage. It included 201 randomly selected adults aged 40 to 66 years who had lived for more than three years in an area with high or low aircraft noise. Of these, 101 were exposed to more than 60 decibels (dB) of aircraft noise on average and 100 were exposed to less than 55 dB and acted as a control group.

For the analysis, the researchers matched the groups in pairs by gender, age, and amount of time living in the area. All participants had their blood pressure measured. Asymptomatic organ damage was assessed by measuring stiffness of the aorta6 and the mass and function of the left ventricle.

The investigators found that the group who lived in an area of high aircraft noise had more hypertension than those who lived in a low aircraft noise area (40% versus 24%). They also had higher systolic (146 versus 138 mmHg) and diastolic (89 versus 79 mmHg) blood pressure than the control group.

When they looked at the indicators of asymptomatic organ damage, the researchers found that those who lived near high aircraft noise had stiffer aorta and higher left ventricular mass. The measurements of left ventricular function were less conclusive.

Our results suggest that living near an airport for three years or more is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure and hypertension,” said Ms Rojek. “These changes may then lead to damage of the aorta and heart which could increase the risk of having a heart attack.”

She added: “European Union regulations say that countries must assess and manage environmental noise7, and there are national laws on aircraft noise. Poland stipulates a maximum of 55 dB around schools and hospitals and 60 dB for other areas. Noise can be kept below those levels by using only noise-certified aircraft, redirecting flight paths, keeping airports away from homes, and avoiding night flights.”

Ms Rojek concluded: “More work is needed to enforce laws on exposure to aircraft noise as it is detrimental to our health. We also need further research to understand how the damage occurs and whether it can be reversed.”

6Stiffness of the aorta was assessed by measuring carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (the time it takes for the arterial pulse to propagate from the carotid to the femoral artery) and central blood pressure (the pressure in the aorta near the heart).

7DIRECTIVE 2002/49/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise

The European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation (EACPR) is a registered branch of the ESC. Its aim is to promote excellence in research, practice, education and policy in cardiovascular health, primary and secondary prevention.

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About the European Society of Cardiology
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) represents more than 95 000 cardiology professionals across Europe and worldwide. Its mission is to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe.

Living under a flight path could send you to an early grave: People exposed to aircraft noise are twice as likely to have high blood pressure

– Flight noise can increase blood pressure and alter structure of the heart
– Study looked at 200 adults where half had lived on aircraft route for 3 years
– Found 40 per cent of those on busy flight paths had high blood pressure
– Many had an enlarged left ventricle – a sign the heart is working too hard

By ANNA HODGEKISS and KATE PICKLES

15 June 2016

Most people living on a flight path learn to block out the sound of aeroplanes as they fly overhead.
But long-term exposure to aircraft noise could increase the chances of having a heart attack, new research suggests.

With rising air traffic, expanding airports and the ever-growing need for housing, more people than ever are being exposed to the racket.

Now researchers in Poland found flight noise is linked to high blood pressure and alter the structure of the heart.

People who lived in an area of high aircraft noise had more hypertension than those who lived in a low aircraft noise area.

Researchers in Krakow investigated how it could be affecting the health of those who are living in the midst of it.

The study assessed the effects of airport nose on blood pressure as well as organ damage linked to it.

It looked at more than 200 adults, aged between 40 and 66, who had lived for more than three years in an area with high or low aircraft noise.

Of these, half were exposed to more than 60 decibels (dB) of aircraft noise, the equivalent to conversation levels in a restaurant.

The remaining participants were exposed to less than 55 dB and acted as a control group.

The researchers matched the groups in pairs by gender, age, and amount of time living in the area. All had their blood pressure measured.

Asymptomatic organ damage (where there are no symptoms) was assessed by measuring stiffness of the aorta, the main artery to the heart as well as the mass and function of the left side of the heart, the left ventricle.

They found four in ten of those who lived in an area of high aircraft noise had higher blood pressure, compared to less than a quarter of those who lived in a low aircraft noise area.

People who live on a flight path were found to have higher blood pressure than those who didn’t.

Many of those who lived near high aircraft noise also had some enlargement to the left side of the heart – responsible for pumping blood around the body – another sign of high blood pressure.

Marta Rojek, of Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow and lead author of the study, said there was increasing evidence living near to an airport can increase the risk of high blood pressure, particularly at night.

Many who live on a busy flight path had damage to the structure of their hearts, researchers found

She said it has been linked to hospitalisation for cardiovascular diseases – but more evidence is needed.

‘Our results suggest living near an airport for three years or more is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure and hypertension,’ she said.

‘These changes may then lead to damage of the aorta and heart which could increase the risk of having a heart attack.’

Figures from the International Civil Aviation Organisation show there were 64 million take-offs and landings in 2013.

This figure is set to double in the next 20 years.
‘European Union regulations say countries must assess and manage environmental noise, and there are national laws on aircraft noise,’ she said.

‘Poland stipulates a maximum of 55 dB around schools and hospitals and 60 dB for other areas.
‘Noise can be kept below those levels by using only noise-certified aircraft, redirecting flight paths, keeping airports away from homes, and avoiding night flights.’

She said it was vital to people’s health these laws are enfourced.

Ms Rojek concluded: ‘More work is needed to enforce laws on exposure to aircraft noise as it is detrimental to our health.

‘We also need further research to understand how the damage occurs and whether it can be reversed.’